Chapter 29: Comfort

Marlene was numb, she couldn't feel anything, she couldn't think anything, she didn't know anything. Waking up, it took her a good five minutes to come to her senses and realise she was in a bed. Another ten minutes and she could tell it was her bed and yet another five minutes after that, and she could tell she wasn't alone.

Sirius was lying on the bed next to her, one hand was smoothing her hair down, the other was resting lightly on her stomach. His head was buried in her shoulder and he was whispering reassuring words of comfort in her ear.

Marlene also felt strangely calm, as if something was numbing the pain. Glancing over at the bedside table she saw two empty goblets she recognised at potion goblets.

She shifted slightly to let Sirius know she was awake.

"Hey." He whispered.

"What time is it?"

"A little after five. You've been out a couple of hours at least, Lily made you a calming draught and a dreamless sleep potion, there is more of the sleep one if you need it."

Marlene shook her head a little. "Are they still here?"

"It's just us, everyone went back to Hogwarts this morning, Lily and James wanted to stay and make sure you're okay, but they had to let Professor Dumbledore know what happened."

Marlene sighed and snuggled back in to him. "Can you stay?"

Sirius smiled and buried his head in her shoulder again. "I can stay as long as you need me." He leant over to kiss her, but decided against it. Instead he gave her a small peck on the cheek.

Marlene turned her head slightly so that Sirius was kissing her lips instead. "Hold me." She whispered.

Lily didn't know what to do. Dumbledore was worried about Marlene being in the house alone. But she wasn't alone, she was with Sirius. If too many people crowded round Marlene, all asking the same questions all trying to comfort her, then she might do something she might later regret.

Dumbledore wanted to bring Marlene back to Hogwarts, but it wasn't really up to him. Lily sighed and slipped her arm into the nook James had made with his arm.

James was as ashen as he was when he had read the news article. He had taken the news almost as hard as Marlene. He had know Michael and Joanne for as long as he could remember. His family were the first to welcome them to the mainland after they moved in from the islands.

The reached Marlene's house, but instead of knocking, they just let themselves in calling softly to Sirius.

The man in question poked his head round the kitchen door and beckoned the young couple over to him. He was currently charming some eggs to cook themselves but it wasn't working out too well.

Lily took out her wand and gently took the frying pan from Sirius' outstretched hand and he sat down with a grateful thump.

"Where's Marlene?" James asked as he put a reassuring hand on his friends shoulder.

"Getting changed, she said she wants to back to Hogwarts."

Lily breathed a sigh of relief. "Dumbledore wants that as well. He seems to think she'll be safer. How is she?" She added.

"Better with the potions you gave her, we had a good chat this morning, and she seemed to get a lot off her chest. You know what she's like about keeping everything inside." James and Lily nodded. "She seems almost normal now, she's putting on a brave face. She doesn't want people to worry about her."

"So what's the best course of action?" James asked as he watched Lily turn back to the stove and the eggs. "Do we carry on as normal, or try and comfort her?"

The others didn't get a chance to respond, as Marlene walked slowly into the kitchen. Upon seeing his girlfriend, Sirius leapt up and engulfed her in a loving hug. Smiling weakly at James and Lily she sat down at the table and nodded gratefully at the plate of eggs Lily put down in front of her.

"I'm sorry guys." She said softly looking at the three of them.

Lily shook her head and gave her a small awkward one armed hug. "There's nothing to be sorry about, don't worry."

Marlene gave another little smile before picking up her folk and eating her eggs.

Everyone knew, everyone was staring at her. Her one fear would be that everyone would know about Martyn. But that seemed to be the one thing they didn't know. They knew everything else, but that.

She walked through the corridors, wedged securely and protectively between James and Sirius. She didn't want the attention this way of traversing the corridors was giving her. People were staring at them, she knew they all wanted to say they were sorry, or give their condolences. Marlene didn't want any of that. She just wanted to get the common room, and sit in a comfy armchair.

She also wanted to find the others and apologise to them too.

"Peter and Remus are waiting in my room, if you want to go there." James said softly as Marlene's face fell at the busy common room. It was the Christmas holidays, it was Boxing Day. Why were so many people here? They should be at home celebrating with their families... Marlene's breath caught in her throat as that thought crossed her mind. She nodded numbly and made her way to the boys dormitories.

Opening the door to James' room, she was met with a soft hug from Remus and a sympathetic nod from Peter.

Sitting down on one of the armchairs, she curled up into a ball and stared at interesting spot on the wall. "How come there was so many people in the common room?"

James looked at her and frowned. "There was only five, Mason Goldsmyth, Mary, Rebecca, Hester and Lester. Hester and Lester aren't even Gryffindors."

Marlene just nodded and an awkward silence fell over the room.

James and Lily shared worried looks, whilst Sirius watched Marlene protectively. Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat and kept switching his gaze from James, to Sirius, to Remus and then back to James again.

The silence was eventually broken by both Marlene and Lily.

"I need to do something." Marlene had said gazing around the room, at the same time Lily had said; "Do you want to go speak to McGonagall and Dumbledore?"

Marlene stood and nodded, "Yes I'll do that. Thank you." She added as she reached the door.

Once she had left Peter let out a small sigh of relief and settled back into his chair. He was met by a harsh gaze from Sirius.

He recoiled and squeaked out a belated apology.

"Sirius mate..." James started, smiling apologetically at Peter.

Sirius sighed and placed his head in his hands. "Sorry guys, I'm just a bit tense. Marl and I had a really long talk this morning, but I couldn't really do much. I just felt so awkward and helpless. I just wanted to pick up my wand and magic all her problems away."

Lily put a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Marlene just needs time to heal, maybe she also needs to talk to someone who had gone through it all." She gave James a meaningful look and James nodded.

James did know what she was going through. The only difference was that James knew it was coming, he also had his father to talk to. Marlene had lost both her parents and her brother. All to the same man but not all in the same way.

Lily shifted slightly on the sofa she was sitting on."Marlene as a person, is very hard to comfort. In six and a bit years how many times have you seen her lose her cool, or get angry or get upset. I think the only comfort we can give her is being there for her. Now more than ever does she need her friends."

James smiled and pulled Lily into a hug. "Well said." He whispered before kissing her lightly.

"I just feel so helpless." Marlene muttered, the tears had started to flow again and she gratefully accepted the hug Professor McGonagall gave her. She was sitting in Dumbledore's office on a conjured sofa with McGonagall beside her. Dumbledore, who was sitting on a armchair opposite them, had his head resting on steepled fingers and was gazing at Marlene sadly. The twinkle in his eye had long disappeared.

"There, there." McGonagall whispered and Marlene found the words strangely comforting.

"There's so much to do." She whispered pulling away from McGonagall. Using a tissue to wipe her face she glanced at Dumbledore. "But I can't bring myself to even send a note to Martyn let alone be in the same room as him and have a civilised conversation about arrangements."

"Don't you worry about that my dear." Dumbledore said softly. "We can get in contact with Martyn."

"Thank you Professor." Marlene said standing up.

Dumbledore nodded and stood up as well. He gathered the young woman into a hug and patted her reassuringly on her back. "To have friends as loyal as yours, is a great gift indeed."

Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall Marlene managed a small smiled. Turning to Professor McGonagall she accepted another hug before leaving the office.

Professor McGonagall watched her go before turning to Dumbledore. Her own eyes were wet with tears. "Crying is good for the soul, things will get better for her."

Dumbledore smiled sadly at his deputy, "In this day and age, one can only hope."

A/N: This chapter was really hard to write and I apologise for being late. I'm also apologising for it being a bit short but anything else didn't really work well. Also on the themes of apologising... I know it''s boring but I needed to get it over and done with. This chapter isn't that important, just the first bit is very important as it sets the scene for later chapters. Yeah so I'm gonna try and start writing more fluently again. Thank you for all your kind reviews and as usual nothing is mine (unfortunately).